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West New York mayor's son gets 1 year probation for hacking website

roque-sentencing.jpg

Joseph Roque leaves the federal courthouse in Newark on Feb. 7, 2014 after being sentenced to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service for hacking into a website set up by his father's political enemies.
(Jonathan Lin/The Jersey Journal)

NEWARK – Joseph Roque, the son of West New York Mayor Felix Roque, will avoid jail time for his role in the hacking of a website set up by the mayor’s political foes.

Roque, 24, was sentenced this morning to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay a $2,500 fine.

He was convicted on Oct. 1 of hacking the website, a misdemeanor offense.

Appearing in front of federal Judge Kevin McNulty in the Newark federal courthouse, Roque expressed remorse about hacking into the Recall Roque website in February 2012.

"I know this is something that can't be expunged from my record," he said.

McNulty replied: "Look, you're a young man. This does not have to be something that impairs you from having a good life."

Roque was prosecuted alongside his father in a case that riveted the Hudson County political world. Both were charged with hacking and conspiracy charges. The mayor was acquitted on both and his son was cleared of the conspiracy charge.

Prosecutors alleged the two men hacked into the website to shut it down -- which the younger Roque admitted to -- and harassing people they believed were behind the website, an allegation they both denied.

During the trial, Freeholder Jose Munoz, who set up the website using a pseudonym, confessed to wearing a wire to record his conversations with the mayor for federal prosecutors.

Before formally delivering the sentence, McNulty said he had received many letters from people praising Roque and his "virtues."

But he cautioned Roque that it was those same virtues - especially loyalty to one's family - that could lead to wrongdoing.

"Sometimes, we think good motives justify bad things," he said.

At one point, McNulty noted that the case was complicated and involved "rough and tumble Hudson County politics."

Toward the end of his remarks, McNulty said he had found "much in favor of the defendant" and that "he has a lot going for him."

John Azzarello, Roque’s lawyer, called the sentence “appropriate.”

“I think Joseph has expressed remorse and that it’s clear he won’t make such a grave mistake again,” Azzarello said.

The mayor showed up late to today’s sentencing. Afterward, his son embraced family members and friends gathered outside the courtroom.